Training device for motor vehicle



July 10, 1962 L. G. SIMJIAN 3,043,020

TRAINING DEVICE FOR MOTOR VEHICLE Original Filed Dec. 4, 1957 2Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.

INVENTOR. LUTHER G. SIMJIAN AGENT.

y 1952 e. SlMJlAN 3,043,020

TRAINING DEVICE FOR MOTOR VEHICLE Original Filed Dec. 4, 1957 2Sheets-Sheet 2 ill [I] I1 n VINVENTOR, LUTHER G. SIMJIAN AGENT.

3,643,020 TRAlNlNG DEVECE 50R MGTGR VEHHILE Lather G. Simg'ian,Greenwich, Conn, assignor to Reflectone Electronics, Inc., Stamford,Conn, a corporation or (Ionnecticnt Original application Dec. 4, 1957,Ser. No. 700,648, now Patent No. 3,013,343, dated Dec. 19, 1961. Dividedand this appiication Mar. 3, 1960, 521'. No. 12,649 11 ijlaims. (6!.35-11) This application is a divisional application of my copendingapplication for US. Letters Patent, Serial No. 700,648, entitledTraining Device, filed December 4, 1957, now Patent No. 3,013,343.

This invention generally refers to improvements in training devicesand'has particular reference to a novel and useful means for training,testing, analyzing and recording the actions and reactions of persons inoperating certain control mechanisms. More specifically, the inventionis related to a classroom training device adapted to present varyingvisual stimuli to a trainee position and wherein controls at the traineeposition may be used to modify certain programmed sequences.

The invention specifically is directed to providing a novel and usefulmechanism for teaching persons the handling of power operated vehicles,such as automobiles, boats, airplanes, etc. While the primary object ofthis training device is the training and instructing of novices, it willbe found that the device is equally useful for evaluating the capabilityand proficiency of drivers possessing already a certain amount ofexperience and skill. In this manner, the instant training device, aswill be apparent from the following description, constitutes anextremely valuable and versatile tool for the ever increasing demand andneed for driver education and evaluation.

The recent rapid increase in moving vehicles and the alarming rise ofthe accident rate with the resultant loss to human life and property hasfocussed renewed attention on the problem of driver education and driverevaluation and pointed out the need for an apparatus which in arealistic manner would serve to teach and evaluate a driver in hisactions and reactions when op erating a power-driven vehicle. Such anapparatus in order to be useful must be suitable in connection withdriver teaching classes where either a single or a plurality of studentsis trained.

Although the prior art shows various trainers of this type, many of theprior art devices known and evaluated exhibit severe shortcomings, suchas inadequate realism and lack of realistic presentation with regard towrong actions by an individual student, specifically when group trainingis involved. 7

The instant application discloses a trainer which has een designed toovercome the above mentioned shortcomings by providing realism not onlyto each single student but by designing the trainer in such a mannerthat it may be used equally well for group training. The trainer isentirely a self-contained unit which is readily transportable forclassroom use. Several trainers in parallel may be used in a singleinstallation without affecting the training value at each singlestation. To this end, the invention provides a trainer which tests the.ability of an individual to handle the vehicle controls under numeroussituations, these situations occurring on a programmed or randomschedule.

In conformity with the forgeoing, in its present and preferredembodiment the invention provides a trainee position which is equippedwith the usual vehicle con-I trolsin the case of an automobi e-steeringwheel, gear shift, brake, clutch and accelerator pedals. In front of3,043,023 Patented July 10, 1962 the trainee position there is disposeda small obiect which represents a portion of the automobile which thetrainee is controlling. A terrain presentation, for instance an endlessbelt, moves relative to the object, the speed of the belt relative tothe object and the lateral position of the object relative to the beltare controlled by the trainee. Means are provided to cause acontinuously changing road pattern on the belt. It is the traineesproblem to steer the object in such a manner that the boundaries of theroadway on the belt are not exceeded. The longitudinal speed of the beltis adjustable by the instructor and may be influenced still further bythe controls at the trainee position.

One of the objects of this invention is therefore the provision of anovel and improved training device which is useful for teaching andevaluating persons in the operation and handling of power drivenvehicles.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a self-containedtrainer readily operable in single or plural units.

Another object ofthis invention is the provision of a driving trainerwhich presents to a student realistic conditions so as to cause thestudent to acquire driving skill and proficiency.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a vehicle trainingdevice in which the actions taken by thestudent are apparent to thestudent at once regardless as to whether individual or group training isinvolved.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a training devicewhich is equipped with means to pre- 1 sent variable and varying roadpatterns to the student.

trating more closely portions of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of an alternate design forthe terrain means;

FIGURE 4 is a side view at line 4 of FIGURE 3; FIGURE 5 is a plan viewof terrain means shown in FIGURE 3 and incorporating certain additionalfeatures, and

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of certain details of componentsindicated schematically in FIGURE 5.

Referring nowto the figures and FIGURE 1 in particular, numeral 11identifies a trainee position such as the cab of an automobile which isto be occupied by the student. It will be apparent that such a studentposition may resemble the operators position on a ship, aircraft, etc.without departing from the scope of the instant invention. Within thiscab there will be found a seat 12, a steering wheel 13, and suitablefoot pedals 14.

In view of the trainees position there is disposed a portion of thevehicle such as the front portion of a hood 15 which may include a hoodornament. This hood portion, or object, is distinct from the cab 11 andismovable laterally with respect to a moving endless belt 16 disposed infront and below the object '15. The endless belt 16 represents visualstimulus means in the form of road information and moves longitudinallytoward the 0bspeed gear in an automobile.

upward or downward with respect to object and cab 11 to simulate upgradeor downgrade road conditions. The lateral or transverse motion of object15 relative to the longitudinal axis of belt 16 is controlled fromsteering wheel 13. One of the objects of this trainer is to impartsteering skill to the student. To this end, cooperating with the beltthere is a set of marking rollers 20 which receive a suitable markingliquid from a set of ink rollers 21. Each marking roller 20 is incontact with the belt at roller 18 and is used to mark a lateralboundary representing the limit of a roadway on the belt. After themarking has passed object 15, the marking becomes erased by cleaningmeans which include a rotary bl'llSh 21A revolving in a suitablecleaning solution22 followed by a hot air drying device 23.

It will be apparent that such marking may comprise pencil marking,inking means, application of magnetic powder, marking by means of heat,application and removal of adhesive tape or similar means withoutdeviating from the principle of the invention.

FIGURE 2 illustrates more closely some of the mechanisms and componentsinvolved in operating the device per FIGURE 1. Motor 31 drives the roadbelt via a conpling 32 and roller 17 about which the endless belt 16 roetates. Belt 16 may be made of fabric, impregnated fabric, plasticmaterial, so that the belt is readily flexible as Well as capable ofbeing marked repetitively with road boundaries. The steering wheel 13via a set of suitable gears 33, 34, and 35 drives a flexible cable 36which is fastened around the side of gear 35. The flexible cable 36after being guided about pulleys 37 and 38 is fastened to object 15 sothat motion of steering wheel 13 causes a corresponding lateral ortransverse motion of object 15 relative to the belt 16.

The speed of driving motor 31 is influenced by the ac celerator pedal 41and gear shift lever 42. Motor 31 is driven from a source of electricenergy 43 via conductor 44, a series of toggle switches in parallel,conductor 45 and via adjustable resistor 46'. The three switches shownrepresent first, second and third gear shift position on an automobileand it will be understood that one switch at a time is closed. Theswitches are actuated by gear shift lever 42 engaging a suitable cam'device 47 which in turn closes one of the three toggle switches. It willbe seen that the switches, from left to right, pick up increasingvoltage so that maximum voltage represents thehighest Rheostat 46 iscontrolled by the accelerator pedal 41 to simulate the action of the gaspedal in an automobile. It will be apparent that the rheostat 46 may bea shaped function potentiometer to simulate actual characteristics of anengine. For the sake of simplicity the clutch pedal is not shown but itreadily can be coupled to cam means 47. It will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art that as an alternate design actual 'mechanical gearratios and gear. shifting means may be 4. of acceleration ordeceleration'and need not be described in further detail.

.It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the adjustment ofthe brake shoe and brake disk may be made subject to wide variation tosimulate varying road conditions. A device of this type may includespring means and clutch facing depending upon the road conditions to besimulated. .In this manner, the friction may 'be changed to simulateconditions involving dry roads to those involving wet roads and icyconditions.

The road marking device involving the establishing of lateral boundarieswill be apparent by referring to the following details: i

The two marking wheels 20 in contact with ink supply wheels 21 aresupported in a movable bracket 61 which is adapted to slide laterallyalong transverse shaft 62. The bracket 61 is driven along its lateralexcursion by means of a motor 63 coupled to an'irregularly shaped cam 64via cam follower 65 and push rod 66. The marking wheels and bracket areresiliently biased toward the cam by spring 67 which is confined betweenreference point 68 and the bracket 61. a

As the motor 63 rotates cam 64, the bracket 61 with marking wheels is inoscillatory motion and causes a pair of lateral boundary marks on belt16 thereby providing a road 76 defined between the markings. It will beapparent that depending upon the contours of the cam 64, the marked roadcan be changed from a simple straight road to a continuously curved roadand that by changing the distance between the marking wheels, the roadmay be wide or narrow. Moreover, it will be observed that the roadpattern is changing continuously and that if the cam contour is ofsuificient length with respect to the linear length of the belt, thepattern is changing without establishing a repetitive pattern during asingle revolution of the belt. If cam 64 is driven at a slow rate theproblem presented to the trainee, having to confine object 15 within thelateral boundaries of the road, will be less diflicult than when drivingcam 64 at a high speed in which case theresultant road pattern will bechanging more rapidly. When it is desired to repeat a certain roadpattern in a repetitive manner, for instance for the'initial phases oftraining or when simulating a short diflicult road, it is obvious thatthe marking device may be disabled by lifting it away from the belt sothat the pattern established on the belt will remain. In this event, itwill be necessary to disable also the erasing means comprisemployedwhich are coupled between the motor and the I roller 17 withoutdeparting from the principle shown.

The brake pedal 48 via flexible cable 49 controls a brake disk and brakeshoe arrangement 50 operativiely coupled to drive shaft 51 so thatoperation of brake pedal. 48 causes a braking action on drive shaft 51which is driven by motor 31. Drive shaft 51 still further is providedwith an inertia means, flywheel 52, in order that the belt ing brush,bath'and blower means 21, 22, and 2.3 respectively of FIGURE 1. Byproviding a third marking wheel, disposed between the marking rollers 20shown, a center-line of the road is achieved.

FIGURES 3 and 4 illustrate an alternate design for the terrain meanswhich are presented to the trainee position. Instead of using acontinuous belt of fabric or plastic material, the terrain meanscomprise a grating formed by a series of transverse elements in parallelalignment with respect to one another and which may be displaced later-I ally. This construction is accomplished by providing endcannot beslowed or accelerated suddenly, but that the I motion of the road beltrelative to the object 15 is provided with suitable inertiawhichrepresents the dynamic characteristics of a moving vehicle.Moreover, an inertia switch 53 in a similar manner is .fastened to thedrive shaft 51, this inertia switch causing an electrical circuitcontact operation during sudden mechanical acceleration or decelerationof the shaft 51. This contactoperation is used. for scoring purposes toindicate whether sudden acceleration or deceleration due to improperoperation of the driving controls'has occurred. Switches of this typeare well known in the art in conjunction with measuring less band meanssuch as a set of spaced link chains 81 and 82 which are adapted toretain therebetween a plurality of parallel rods 83. As the chains aredriven about respective rollers or sprockets, rods 83 follow,thusestablishing essentially a flexible belt comprising a plurality ofparallel rods. Each rodis equippedwith a shorter tubing 84 which isadapted to slide along the longitudinal axis of .the associated rod.These tubular elements therefore are capableof transverse or lateralmotion with respect to the longitudinal axis of the terrain belt.

The terrain means described above incorporate a mechanism for causingthe lateral displacement of the tubular members by providing a push rod85 attached to a U- shaped frame 86A. By. arranging push rod 85 so thatit is driven by cam 64 (FIGURE 2), a lateral displacement of the tubularelements is obtained. After the terrain has passed the view of thetrainee position, guide means 86 are provided which collect thedisplaced tubular elements and bring the elements into alignment inframe 86A.

Tubular elements 84 may be painted with a distinct color to Simulateconcrete or macadam roads so as to closely resemble the appearance ofactual roadways. Moreover, the ends of the tubing may be provided withupstanding extensions to provide visualization of highway markers,trees, fence posts, telegraph poles, etc. It will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art that instead of v tubular elements colored beads,pins or other markers may be employed without departing from the broadprinciple of the invention. By using the terrain means described aboveit will be apparent, that the marking and erasing means shown in FIGURE1 need not be employed.

A further improvement of the road pattern, simulating more closely theview seen by a driver driving along a highway which appears to mergeinto a point at the distant horizon is shown in FIGURES 5 and 6. Theroad pattern 172 comprises a plurality of transverse elements 173, eachelement being supported on a transverse rod 83 and these rods beingmounted in a set of spaced link chains 81 and 82 respectively, the sameas in FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of certain elements within the generalarrangement of the road pattern. Each transverse rod 83 which supportsthe transverse road pattern elements 173 supports a pair of transverselyslidable bars or members 174 and 175 which together form the roadelement 173. Both members, member 174 and 175, are normally held againstone another by means of tension spring 176 which is attached to brackets177 and 178 respectively, each of these brackets being mounted to one ofthe members. The laterally slidable members 174 and 175 may be spreadapart by means of guide means, such as longitudinal bars 180 and 181which are joined together at pivot point 182, thereby forming abifurcated mechanism. It will be noted that longitudinal bar 131 is incontact with bracket 177 and longitudinal bar 181 in contact withbracket 178. As the terrain means move toward the view of the traineeposition, each of the terrain elements 173 comprising members 174- and175 is spread apart to produce the pattern illustrated in FIGURE 5. Theamount of spreading, produced by the distance between bars 183 and 181,may be adjusted by means of screw means 133 which serves to change theworkingspace available for helical spring 184, the latter holding thebars in their spread position.

It will be apparent that the entire road arrangement may be shiftedlaterally to produce curves as. illustrated in FIGURE 3 and that theindividual transverse elements at their extreme lateral end may beshaped in any suitable manner to suit the conditions simulated.

While there have been shown certainspecific features and embodiments ofthe present invention it will be apparent to those skilled in the artthat various further and other modifications may be made therein withoutdeparting from the spirit and intent of the instant invention whichshall be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A training device comprising: a trainee position; controls foroperation by a trainee disposed at said position; an object in view atsaid trainee position; an elongated terrain means visible at the traineeposition with said object being disposed above said terrain means; meansfor causing said terrain means and object to be movable laterallyrelative to one another in response to the controls at said traineeposition; said terrain means comprising a grating which includes aplurality of parallel transverse elements; each of said elementsfastened to endless band means; a set of rollers disposed for supportingsaid band means; motive means for rotating said band means about saidrollers whereby to cause said elements to advance toward said object asviewed from said trainee position; each of said transverse elementsprovided with a further element which is laterally displaceable on theassociated transverse element whereby said further element is adapted todemarcate the boundaries of a path within which the object is to beconfined by means of said controls; means for selectively displacingsaid further elements relative to the associated transverse elements,and said means displacing said further elements being operated inresponse to the operation of said motive means.

2. A training device comprising: a trainee position; controls foroperation by a trainee disposed at said position; an object in view atsaid trainee position; anelongated terrain means visible at the traineeposition with said object being disposed above said terrain means; meansfor causing said terrain means and object to be movable laterallyrelative to one another in response to the controls at said traineeposition; said terrain means comprising a grating which includes aplurality of parallel transverse elements; each of said elementsfastened to endless band means; a set of rollers disposed for supportingsaid band means; motive means attached to at least one of said rollersfor rotating said band means about said rollers whereby to cause saidelements to advance toward said object as viewed from said traineeposition, the speed of said band means being responsive to the controlsat said trainee position; each of said transverse elements provided witha further element which is laterally displaceable on the associatedtransverse element whereby said further element is adapted to demarcatethe boundaries of a path within which the object is to be confined bymeans of said controls; means for selectively displacing said furtherelements laterally relative to said associated transverse elements, andsaid means displacing said further elements being operated in responseto the speed of said motive means. I

3. A training device comprising: a trainee position; controls foroperation by a trainee disposed at said position; an elongated terrainmeans visible at the trainee position; means supporting an object abovesaid terrain means and in view of said trainee position; mean forcausing said terrain means and object to be movable laterally relativeto one another in response to the controls at said trainee position;said terrain means comprising a grating which includes a plurality ofparallel transverse elements; each of said elements fastened to endlessband means; a set of rollers disposed for supporting said band means;motive means attached to at least one of said rollers for rotating saidband means about said rollers whereby to cause said elements to advancetoward said object as viewed from said trainee position and the speed ofsaid band means being responsive to the controls at said traineeposition; each of said transverse elements provided'with a furtherelement which is displaceable along the length of the associatedtransverse element whereby said further element is adapted to demarcatethe lateral boundary of a path within which the object is to be confinedby means of said controls; guide means adapted to engage and selectivelydisplace said further elements laterally relative to said associatedtransverse elements; means for moving said guide means to cause variablelateral displacement of said further elements before said elements passthe position at which said object is disposed; said means moving saidguide means being operated in response to the operation of said motivemeans, and means for realigning displaced cfurther elements after saidelementshave passed the position of said object.

4. A training device comprising: a trainee position; controls foroperation by a trainee disposed at said position; an elongated terrainmeans visible at the trainee position; means supporting an object abovesaid terrain means and in view of said trainee position; means forcausing said terrain means and object to be movable laterally relativeto one another in response to the controls at said trainee position;said terrain means comprising a grating which includes a plurality ofparallel transverse bars; each of said bars fastened to endless bandmeans; a set of V rollers disposed :for supporting said band means;motive means attached to at least one of said roller for rotating saidband means about said rollers whereby to cause said bars to advancetoward said object as viewed from said trainee position and the speed ofsaid band means being responsive to the control at said traineeposition; each of said transverse bars provided with a tubing which isdisplaceable along the length of the associated transverse bar wherebysaid tubing is adapted to demarcate the lateral boundary of a pathwithin which the object is to be confined by means of said controls;guide means adapted to engage and selectively displace said ttubingslaterally relative to said associated transverse bars; means for movingsaid guide means to cause variable lateral displacement of said tubingsbefore the. respective bars pass underneath said object; said meansmoving said guide means being operated in'response to the speed of saidmotive means, and means for realigning displaced tubings for beingreceived by said guide means after said bars have passed underneath saidobject. a

5. A training device comprisingzta trainee position; controls foroperation by a trainee disposed at said position; an elongated terrainmeans visible at the trainee position; means supporting an 'object abovesaid terrain means and in view of said trainee position; means forcausing said terrain means and object to be movable laterally relativeto one another in response to the controls at said trainee position;said terrain means comprising a grating which includes a plurality ofparallel transverse bars; each of said bars fastened to a set of spacedendless chains; a set of spaced apart sprockets disposed for supportingsaid chains; motive means coupled toat least one of said sprockets forrotating said chains about said sprockets whereby to cause said bars toadvance toward said object and pass underneath thereof as viewed fromsaid trainee position, the speed of said chains being. responsive to thecontrols at said trainee position; each of said transverse bars providedwith a tubing which is displaceable along the length of the associatedtransverse bar; said tubing being constructed to demarcate the lateralboundary of a path within which the object is controls for operation bya trainee disposed at said position; an object in view at said traineeposition; an elongated terrain means visible at the trainee positionwith said object being disposed abovesaid terrain means; means forcausing said terrain means and object to be movable laterally relativeto one another in response to the controls at said trainee position;said terrain means comprising a grating which includes a plurality oftransverse elements; each of said elements fastened to endless bandmeans; a set of rollers disposed for supporting said band means; drivingmeans for rotating said band means about said rollers whereby to causesaid elements to advance toward said object as viewed from said traineeposition; each transverse element comprising a set of bars adjustablypositionable relative to one another for varying the distance betweenthe opposite ends of said bars along the lateral dimension of saidterrain means; the opposite ends of said bars defining the lateralboundary of a path within which said object is to be confined by meansof the controls at said trainee position; guide means disposed forengaging said bars as said elements advance toward said object, and saidguide means adapt- 8 I t 7 ed to selectively adjust the distance betweensaid opposite ends as each element moves relative to said guide means inresponse to the operation or" said driving means.

'7. A training device comprising: a trainee position; controls foroperation-by a trainee disposed at said position; an object in view atsaid trainee position; an elongated terrain means visible at the traineeposition with said object being disposed above said terrain means; meansfor causing said terrain means and object to be movable laterallyrelative to one another in response to the controls at said traineeposition; said terrain means comprising a grating which includes aplurality of transverse elements; each of said elements fastened toendless band means; a set of rollers disposed for supporting said bandmeans; driving means attached to at least one of said rollers forrotating said band means about said rollers whereby to cause saidelements to advance toward said object as viewed from said traineeposition; each transverse element comprising a pair of bars slidablypositionable relative to one another for varying the distance betweenthe opposite ends of said bars along the lateral dimension of saidterrain means; the opposite ends of said bars defining the lateralboundary of a path within which the object is to be confined by means ofthe controls at said trainee position; guide means disposed for engagingsaid bars as said elements advance toward said object and pass theposition of said object, and said guide means adapted to selectivelyspread said bars whereby to adjust the distance between said oppositeends as each element moves relative to said guide means in response tothe operation of said driving means.

8. A training device comprising: a trainee position; controls foroperation by a trainee disposed at said position; an object in view atsaidtrainee position; an elongated terrain means visible at the traineeposition with said object being disposed above said terrain means; meansfor causing said terrain means and object to be movable laterallyrelative to one another in response to the controls at said traineeposition; said terrain means comprising a grating which includes aplurality of transverse elements; each of said elements fastened toendless band means; a set of rollers disposed for supporting said bandmeans; driving means attached to at least one of said rollers forrotating said band means about said rollers whereby to causesaid'elements to advance toward said object as viewed from said traineeposition; said driving means being operable in response to the controlsat said trainee position; each transverse element comprising a pair ofbars slidably positionable relative to one another for varyingthetdistance between the opposite ends of said bars along the lateraldimension of said terrain means; the opposite ends of said barsdemarcating the lateral boundarytof a path within which the object is tobe confined by means of the controls at said trainee position;adjustable guide means disposed for engaging said bars as said elementsadvance toward said object and pass the position of said object; saidguide means adapted to selectively spread said bars whereby to adjustsaid distance as each element moves relative to said guide means inresponse to the operation of said driving means; means for adjustingsaid guide means to cause the distance between opposite ends of arespective pair of bars which is disposed in proximity to the positionof the object to be greater than the respective distance of a respectivepair of bars farther removed from the object as seen from said traineestation along said terrain means, whereby to simulate the opticalillusion of parallel lateral boundaries meeting at a distant horizon.

9. A training device comprising: a trainee position; controls foroperation by a trainee disposed at said position; an object in view'atsaid trainee position; an elongated terrain means visible at the traineeposition with said object being disposed above said terrain means; meansfor causing said terrain means and object to be movable laterallyrelative to one another in response to the controls at said traineeposition; said terrain means comprising a grating which includes aplurality of transverse elements; each of said elements fastened toendless band means; a set of rollers disposed for supporting said bandmeans; driving means operative upon said band means for rotating saidband means about said rollers whereby to cause said elements to advancetoward said object as viewed from said trainee position, said drivingmean being operable in response to the controls at said traineeposition; each transverse element comprising a pair of bars slidablypositionable relative to one another for varying the distance betweenthe opposite extreme ends of said bars along the lateral dimension ofsaid terrain means; said ends of said bars demarcating the lateralboundary of a path within which the object is to be confined by means ofthe controls at said trainee position; adjustable guide means disposedat a position in front of said object along the length of travel of saidterrain means; said guide means engaging said bars as said elementsadvance toward said object and pass the position of said object, andselectively spread said bars whereby to adjust the distance betweenrespective extreme ends of said bars as each element moves relative tosaid guide means in response to the operation of said driving means;means :for adjusting said guide means to cause the distance betweenopposite ends of bars to be adjusted in relation to their proximity tosaid object whereby to cause the distance of a respective pair of barsto increase as the pair advances toward the position of said object inresponse to the operation of said driving means, said terrain means whenviewed from said trainee position simulating the optical illusion ofparallel lateral boundaries meeting at a distant horizon.

10. A training device as set forth in claim 9 wherein resilient biasmeans are provided for urging each respective pair of bars toward oneanother and said guide means spreading said bars comprise a set oflongitudinal bars whose separation is adjustable.

11. A training device comprising: a trainee position; controls foroperation by a trainee disposed at said position; an object in View atsaid trainee position; an elongated terrain means visible at saidtrainee position with p said object being disposed above said terrainmeans; means for causing said terrain means and object to be'movablelaterally relative to one another in response to the controls at saidtrainee position; said terrain means comprising a set of spaced endlesschains and a plurality of transverse rods in parallel alignment withrespect to one another supported by said chains to form a grating; a setof sprockets disposed for supporting said chains; driving meansoperative upon said chains for rotating said chains about said sprocketswhereby to cause said rods to advance toward said object as viewed fromsaid trainee position; said driving means being operable in response tocontrols at said trainee position; each transverse rod supporting a pairof bars which are adapted to be selectively positionable along thelongitudinal axis of the associated bar whereby the distance between theopposite extreme ends of each pair of bars is variable for defining thewidth of a path within which said object is to be confined by means ofthe controls at said trainee position; a tab extending from each of saidbars; adjustable guide means disposed at a position in front of saidobject along the length of travel of said bars; said guide means adaptedto engage each of said tabs for adjusting the distance between saidopposite ends of said bars as each pair of bars moves relative to saidguide means toward said object in response to the operation of saiddriving means; means for adjusting said guide means to cause thedistance between opposite ends of bars to be adjusted in relation totheir proximity to said object whereby to cause the distance of arespective pair of bars to increase as the respective pair advancestoward said object, said terrain means when viewed from said traineeposition simulating the optical illusion of parallel lateral boundariesmeeting at a distant horizon.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS736,901 Willson Aug. 18, 1903 1,768,482 Koch June 24, 1930 2,493,942Bingham Jan. 10, 1950 2,742,714 Allgaier Apr. 24, 1956

